As you can imagine, I read a lot of books, articles and blogs about employees. Here's one you don't want to miss - a brilliant tangible management book and a valuable assessment all in one.
$16 from Amazon or $30 to support your local book store - you'll want one for each of your employees.
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton
Why one for each of your employees? Because at the back of the book is a code where your employee can go online and take their personal strengths assessment. In about 30 minutes they will find out their top 5 strengths - and so will you!
(In addition to the $15/$30 you will also have the cost of your employees 30 minutes of time taking the assessment and then another 30 discussing the results - however I would suggest this is time and money very well spent.)
In a nutshell, the book describes
- why you should consider hiring and managing based on strengths (lots of evidence to back this up)
- each of the different strengths they've identified in detail
- how to manage people based on each of the different strengths (fabulous takeaway!)
I also find it valuable for coworkers to know each other's strengths - it helps everyone value one another in a different light and have a sense of who's the "go to" person on different issues or opportunities. In addition, most everyone likes to learn about themselves through an empowering venue.
I highly recommend this small investment as it provides big value.
